Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the cultural aspect of Egungun phenomenon and the commercialisation of the World Egungun Festival to expand the economy of the state.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, stated this on Friday, at the symposium organised to mark the 2026 World Egungun Festival, themed: “The Creative Economy of Egungun,” held at the Local Government Training School Hall, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Olatubosun noted that the aim of the symposium was to enlighten people to make them see beyond the entertainment and spirituality of Egungun.
He stated that the phenomenon can form a major part of the global creative economy, explaining that plans are underway to produce annual journals to ensure proper documentation of the event for future reference and preservation of the state’s cultural heritage.
He expatiated that the entertainment side of Egungun had been overshadowed by the violence, which used to erupt during the event, saying this had enhanced the acceptability of Egungun overtime.
He, however, stressed that the state government packaged the World Egungun Festival to showcase and preserve the cultural values, virtues and attract more people into the festival to embrace the entertainment culture of Egungun and promote tourism both locally and globally.
Dr Olatubosun appreciated Governor ‘Seyi Makinde for promoting culture and tourism and for officially designating the 1st and 2nd of May each year as the new dates for the celebration of the World Egungun Festival in the state.
He added that the festival is a joint initiative of the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Adayeba Culture Tourism Foundation, The Sahara Centre, Ìjọ-Ọ̀jẹ̀ Parapọ̀ Welfare Association Worldwide, and the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.
Delivering her keynote address on the theme “Maintaining Semantic Integrity,” the Executive Director of the Sahara Centre, Dr. Adunola Okupe, emphasised the need to look beyond the entertainment aspect of festivals.
She urged the participants, visitors and tourists to engage with these festivals, to value them not merely as spectacles, but as rich cultural expressions deserving of respect and protection for the next generation to adapt.
Also speaking, Director, Institute of African studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Sola Olorunyomi, maintained that there is a need to restructure the curriculum for younger generations to understand not just the cultural value, but also the functional and economic relevance of our traditions.
The duo of Okupe and Olorunyomi both stressed the importance of integrating traditional cultural knowledge into modern systems to drive economic and community development, while also highlighting the festival’s value chain, which spans fabrics, fashion, beadwork, music and drumming, among others.
The speakers further called for strategic investment, proper documentation, and sustained cultural promotion to position the festival as a major international tourist attraction globally.
Earlier in their separate goodwill messages, the Chairman, Ijo Oje, Oyo State, Chief Bamidele Ojebode; the Legunsen of Ode Ule, Oba (Prof.) Adedayo Adesanya, Erinsiba (I) and the Director of Information at the International Literacy and Information Institute under UNESCO, Dr Sharon Omotosho, all commended the Oyo State Government and the organisers of the World Egungun Festival for promoting the culture.
They called on the organisers to ensure adequate security of lives and properties of the citizens during the event.
The event attracted key dignitaries, including the Deputy Head of Mission at the British High Commission in Lagos, Mr. Simon Field; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja (II), who was represented by his wife, Olori Folashade Ashley Ogunwusi; traditional rulers, religious leaders and government functionaries, among others dignitaries
